When I heard Carter Efe say, “I went to Babcock University, I graduated with a First Class (Upper) in Biochemistry,” I paused, not because graduating with a First Class is impossible, but because of the “upper” that followed it. That single word did more talking than the entire sentence.

In Nigerian universities, it’s either First Class or it’s not. There is no “upper” or “lower” First Class. That classification belongs strictly to Second Class degrees. So when someone confidently invents a new category, it naturally raises eyebrows. Mine didn’t just rise, they stayed there.

Almost immediately, I checked social media, and I wasn’t alone. Nigerians did what they do best: investigate, analyze, joke, and interrogate the system all at once. 

Some asked for receipts. Others laughed it off as a slip of the tongue. 

A few went deeper, using the moment to reopen an old but uncomfortable conversation about the credibility of degrees and the quiet corruption that sometimes shadows Nigerian universities.

That’s the thing, this isn’t really just about Carter Efe. It’s about a system where people feel comfortable saying anything because, often, nobody checks. 

It’s about a country where fake degrees have made headlines, lecturers have been caught selling grades, and “connections” sometimes matter more than competence. 

So when someone makes a bold academic claim, Nigerians no longer just clap, we squint.

Of course, it’s entirely possible Carter Efe misspoke. But in a society already fatigued by dishonesty, even small inaccuracies feel loud. Words matter. Titles matter. 

And if you’re going to flex a First Class in Biochemistry one of the most demanding courses out there, you should probably get the name right.

In the end, the online reaction wasn’t pure hate; it was skepticism born from experience. Nigerians aren’t wicked, we’re just tired.

 Tired of half-truths, tired of exaggerations, and tired of a system that has taught us to question everything, even success.

So yes, congratulations to anyone who truly earns a First Class. But please, no “upper,” no “almost,” no remix. In every country, accuracy is the real achievement.